Liquid-type electric baseboard heater



Apnl 12, 1966 F. .1. BRANDENBURG 3,246,120

LIQUID-TYPE ELECTRIC BASEBOARD HEATER l t 0. e r m U 4 m w 8 e d e H mm a r 3 B J k n m F l m F 2 6 9 l 2 v 0 N d e 1 i F ZNVENTOR.

O BY My Ammeys A ril 12, 1966 F. J. BRANDENBURG 3,246,120

LIQUID-TYPE ELECTRIC BASEBOARD HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 2, 1962 Y m g 0 ,m. w m m 8 .D E //.R n V 9 0 N 2 0 l H 2 M w 6 m 0 6 M 2 A 2 m a m A 5 9 2 0 9 4 8 f w f r B W 4 1 J 0 A 4 9 m 6 7 w/v M Y L 2 9 h V m B r. f 1M 0 0|] F Jr 7 m w \I a 7\ 5 I .m... :1

Q a A 4 6 w 4 w F 6 \6 w United States Patent Filed Nov. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 235,028

6 Ciaims. (Cl. 260-4949) This invention relates to acircu'lating liquid-type of baseboard heater and more particularly, to a baseboard space heater wherein heat is transferred to a space to be heated by convection and radiation.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a baseboard type of space heater combining the desirable attributes of both convection type and radiation type of heating systems. The space heater of the present invention is therefore designed to more rapidly heat the space to be heated as well as to more uniformly distri'butethe heat thereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a baseboard type of space heater construction which is most easily installed, most flexible with respect to installational requirements and yet reliable in operation and economical. to manufacture.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a baseboard type of space heater which features a novel radiating surface panel assembly enclosing there behind liquid circulating tubes from which heat is derived for transfer to the space to be heated by both convection and radiation. The panel assembly is therefore constructed in sucha manner as to be in heat conduction relation to the liquid circulating tubes and also to absorb and store heat therefrom. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful arrangement of liquid circulating tubes and a heating chamber assembly adapted to more efliciently distribute heat in a noiseless fashion.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accom panying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a typical installation of the space heater of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of a base-board heater made in accordance with the principles of the present invention with the removable end casings removed.

FIGURE 3 is a top elevational view of the baseboard heater with parts broken away and shown in section.

FIGURE 4 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 4-4 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through -a plane indicated by section line 55 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 66 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 7-7 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURES 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views illustrating alternative arrangements for the component parts of the baseboard heater of the present invention.

Cil

Office Referring now to the drawings in detail, a portion of one typical baseboard heater assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 10, is shown in FIGURE I mounted along the baseboard portion of one of the walls 12 of a space to be heated. The space heater assembly 10 therefore includes a metallic heat-conductive channelsupporting member 14 mounted on the wall 12 by a plurality of spaced fasteners 16, the supporting channel member 14 being spaced above the floor 18 by a predetermined distance for accommodating there below a radiating surface panel assembly 20 and a removable casing member 22 at one end of the assembly 10 adjacent a corner of the wall 12. A temperature-adjusting knob 24 is therefore exposed through the removable casing member 22 by means of which the temperature of the heated space may be regulated in accordance with the desires of the space occupants. The lower edge 26 of the radiating surface panel assembly 20 is also slightly spaced above the floor 18 so as to permit the flow and heating of air there behind.

As more clearly seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, a heating chamber assembly generally referred to'by reference numeral 28 is enclosed behind the removable casing member 22 which also conceals the electric juncture box 30 from which the control shaft 32 extends, said control shaft being connected to the control knob 24 in order to permit the temperature adjustment hereinbefore referred to. Accordingly, the electrical juncture box 30 is wired to the upper mounting portion of a heater mechanism 34 supported on top of the heating chamber assembly 28 and to a thermostatic control mechanism 36 mounted intermediate the heating ch-amber assembly 28. The heating chamber assembly, the heater mechanism and the thermostatic control thus form a hot water generator connected to a liquid circulating assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 33 which is disposed behind the panel assembly 20 and removable casing members 22 and 49 disposed in slightly overlapping relation to the panel assembly 20 at opposite longitudinal ends thereof.

The liquid circulating assembly 3% includes an upper tube or conduit 42 connected at its left end to the heating chamber assembly 28 and at its right end through a T- coupling 44 to a vertical connecting section 46, the vertical connecting section being connected by the elbow 45; to a lower tube 50. The lower tube 56 is disposed horizontally and parallel to the upper tube 42 and is also connected to a lower portion of the heating chamber assembly. The upper end of the T-coupling 44 is provided with a relief valve assembly 52 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 6 and is also connected by a restrictor tube 54 to the lower end of a chamber member 56 disposed adjacent to the connecting end section 46 behind the removable panel or casing member 40. The chamber member 56 is thereby operative to permit volumetric expansion of the circulating fluid by restrictively venting any increased pressure to a lower pressure in the chamber as well as to restrictively release pressure when charged so as to form a pressure-equalizing cushion for preventing abrupt changes in static pressure that may occur due to any rapid change in the heat transfer condition of the heater. Thus, liquid will normally flow at a more ele-v vated temperature along the upper tube 42 from the heat ing chamber assembly toward the vertical connecting section 46 and return along the lower tube 50 to the heating chamber. Increasing pressure in the circulating tubes will accordingly charge the chamber 56 and thereby prevent any rapid rise in the static pressure of the circulating tube system while at the same time the pressurized fluid stored or accumulated within the chamber member 56 will be operative to prevent any rapid reduction in the pressure within the circulating tubes by flow of fluid therefrom through the restrictor tube 54. Accordingly, the action of the pressure accumulator chamber device 55 will reduce noises that may occur because of inter mittent operation of the hot water generator disposed at the opposite end of the pair of circulating tubes 42 and As more clearly seen in FIGURE 4, the heating chamber assembly 23 includes a vertically elongated tubular housing 58 within which liquid or water is contained. An outlet portion 60 is connected to the tubular housing 58 adjacent the upper end thereof to which the circulating tube 42 is connected by means of a threaded fitting assembly 62. The upper end of the tubular housing is closed by a top cover member 64 within which a sealing gasket 66 is fitted, the cover member and gasket being provided with an opening through which the mounting portion 68 of the heater 34 extends. Accordingly, the mounting portion 68 of the heater may support there Within a transformer device for converting electrical energy in order to provide energizing current for the heating element 70 of the heater disposed within the liquid-containing chamber 72 of the heating assembly. The mounting portion 68 is therefore secured to the upper end of the tubular housing 53 by the clamping flange assembly 74 while the lower portion 76 of the heating element 70 forms a U-turn and terminates within the low er portion of the heating chamber 72 so that heating of the water contained there within, will be concentrated at the lower end portion. Surrounding the lower end portion of the tubular housing 58, is a water jacket 78, said jacket extending below the lower end plate 80 of the housing 58. A water inlet 82 is connected to the upper portion of the jacket 78 to which the lower circulating tube is connected by the threaded fitting 84. Accordingly, cold water is introduced into the jacket 78 and flows downwardly below the lower axial end of the housing 58 before being introduced there within through a metered inlet opening 86 arranged to control or restrict the fiow of water in order to ensure proper heating thereof before it flows out the upper outlet so as indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 4. By virtue of the configuration of the heating element, concentrating the heating of the water at the lower portions of the heating chamber 72, and because of the jacketed flow of cold water thereabout, the temperature of the water or liquid may be elevated to the boiling point without the noise that would otherwise be produced. It will also be apparent, that by virtue of the operation of the heating chamber assembly and the heater disposed there within, a thermally induced flow of liquid will be circulated through the parallel tubes 42 and 56 so that the fluid at an elevated temperature within the tube 42, may constitute a source of heat adapted to be distributed to the space to be heated by the panel assembly 20. It will of course be appreciated, that the heater will be intermittently operative under control of the thermostatic mechanism 36 responsive to a predetermined temperature of the tubular chamber 58 for cutting off or energizing the heating element 70.

As'more clearly seen in FIGURE 5, the supporting channel member 14 includes a connecting portion 88 secured to the wall 12 by means of the fasteners 16. lower leg 90 of the channel supporting member 14 engages the upper longitudinal edge portion 92 of the panel assembly 20 while the lower edge portion 26 thereof is engaged by theleg portion 94 of a lower angle bracket member 96 also secured to the wall 12 by a plurality of The I 4. fasteners 98, said lower supporting bracket member 96 being concealed behind the panel assembly. The panel assembly itself, is composed of a thin sheet of heat-conductive and heat-radiating material 100 preferably a metal such as aluminum. The outer metallic member 100 is conductively bonded to the liquid circulating tubes 42 and 50 by means of strips of epoxy resin 102 applied by processes well known to those skilled in the art for the purpose of establishing a good heat conductive bond between the circulating tubes and the outer metallic member 100, the tubes being also made of heat=conductive material. It will therefore be observed, that the liquid conducting tubes are secured to the outer metallic ment ber 1430 along fiat portions 104 thereof whereby heat may be transferred from the member 100 through radia= tion as well as by convection due to contact therewith. The outer metallic member N0 is also provided with corrugated portions 106 so as to increase the heat-con ductive surface exposed to the air in order to obtain better distribution and contact therewith. The corrugated portions 106 are therefore disposed in vertically spaced relation on opposite sides of the upper tube 42 through which fluid at'elevated temperatures is conducted; Fortn= ing a backing coating the rear side of the outer member 100, is a mastic 103 which may be in the form of a black resin stable up to 300 F. without creeping. The mastic also insulates the exposed portions of the upper tube 42 and an upper portion of the lower tube 50 so as to render them non-radiating. Accordingly, the mastic backing will be operative to slowly absorb heat during the operating cycle of the heater and during the non-operating cycle, slowly supply heat to the surrounding air and surfaces in contact therewith so as to reduce sharp variation in temperatures of the panel assembly and maintain the temperature differential between the upper and lower tubes, 42 and 50 produced by the thermal flow of fluid therethrough. The panel assembly will thereby be ef fective as a radiating member at all times as well as a convection type of heating surface because of its con ductive bonding to the circulating tube 4-2 when liquid at elevated temperatures flows therethrough. Air will circulatein the space being heated so that cooler air con tacts bottom portion 94 while warmer air contacts upper portion 90, because of convection from contact with the outer member 100 which will also be effective as a heat radiating surface. A convection flow behind the panel will also be induced within the heater because of the temperature differential between tubes 42 and 50. Because of the exposure of the lower portion of return tube 50 to cooler air operative to reduce the temperature thereof thermally induced circulation through the tubes 42 and 50 will be enhanced.

Referring now to FIGURES 8 and 9, it will be appreciated that the liquid circulating tubes may extend from the vertically elongated heating assembly in different directions. Thus, in FIGURE 8, the liquid circulating tubes extend perpendicular to each other from the heating assembly 110 constructed in accordance with the principles described in connection with FIGURES 1 through 7. A removable casing member 112 is therefore provided in connection therewith so as to conceal the heating assembly 110 within the corner as well as the exposed portions of the liquid circulating tubes connected thereto. In FIGURE 9, the heating assembly 114 also constructed in accordance with the principles described in connection with FIGURES 1 through 7, is disposed'on an intermediate portion of a wall 116 that may require the extension of the liquid circulating tubes from opposite vertical sides of the heat-generating unit 114 for better distribution purposes. Accordingly, an elongated remov able casing 113 is provided in connection with the arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 9 so as to overlap by a slight amount, the radiating panel assemblies associated with the pair of liquid circulating tubes extending from. opposite sides of the heat-generating unit 114.

From the foregoing description, the operation and utility of the baseboard type of space heater, its installational flexibility and its advantageous attributes, will be apparent. It will therefore be appreciated, that of particular significance in the described arrangement, is the use of an epoxy resin to bond the liquid-circulating tubes to the radiating panel assembly and providing a mastic backing for the panel assembly to maintain the temperature differential of the tubes and regulate transfer of heat from the panel assembly. Further, the combination of both convection and radiant heating provided by the heater, coupled with the pressure equalizer and vertically disposed hot water generator at opposite ends of the liquid circulating system, involves a more efficient generation and distribution of heat in a noiseless manner.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A fluid flow type of heater for an air space comprising a heating chamber containing a heat conductive fluid, circulating conduit means operatively connected to the heating chamber for circulating a thermally induced flow of said fluid, heat radiating surface means having one side conductively bonded in enclosing relation to the circulating conduit means for transfer of heat by conduction and radiation from the other side thereof, heating means mounted within said heating chamber, control means connected to the heating means for intermittently elevating the temperature and pressure of the fluid to induce said thermal flow and heat storing means including a material mounted on and insulating said circulating conduit means and said one side of the radiating surface means for regulating transfer of heat to the air space, said circulating conduit means including lower and upper fluid conducting conduits disposed in parallel, horizontal relation to each other and having opposite ends respectively connected to said heating chamber and to a vertical connecting section, pressure chamber means disposed adjacent to said connecting section and restrictive passage means operatively connecting said upper conducting conduit to the pressure chamber means for eliminating abrupt fluctuations in static pressure of the fluid, said heating chamber means comprising, a vertically elongated fluidcontaining housing having an upper portion connected to the upper conducting conduit and a lower portion within which said heating means is concentrated, a jacket mounted about said lower portion of the housing connected to said lower conduit of the liquid circulating means, and restrictive inlet means providing fluid communication between said jacket and said lower portion of the housing to control the flow of fluid therethrough.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said radiating surface means comprises a panel member made of material having heat conductive and heat radiating properties, said panel member having flat portions bonded on said one side to the lower and upper conduits of the fluid circulating means by an epoxy bonding resin, and corrugated portions vertically spaced on opposite sides of said upper conduit of the fluid circulating means.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said heat storing means comprises a heat absorbing mastic forming a backing for the radiating surface means on said one side thereof and insulating said upper conduit and an upper portion of said lower conduit of the fluid circulating means.

4. A fluid flow type of space heater comprising heating chamber means containing a heat conductive liquid, circulating conduit means operatively connected to the heating chamber for conducting a thermally induced flow of said liquid, heating means mounted within said heating chamber means for intermittently elevating the temperature and pressure of the liquid to induce said thermal flow, said circulating means including conduits disposed in vertically spaced relation to each other and having opposite ends respectively connected to said heating chamber means and to a vertical connecting section, pressure storing chamber means disposed adjacent to said connecting section and restrictive passage means operatively connecting said upper liquid conducting conduit to the pressure storing chamber means for eliminating abrupt fluctuations in static pressure of the liquid, said heating chamber means comprising, a vertically elongated liquidcontaining housing having an upper portion connected to the upper conduit and a lower portion within which said heating means is concentrated, a jacket mounted about said lower portion of the housing connected to said lower conduit of the liquid circulating means, and restrictive inlet means providing fluid communication between said jacket and said lower portion of the housing to control the flow of liquid therethrough.

5. A fluid flow type of heater for an air space comprising a heating chamber containing a heat conductive fluid, circulating conduit means operatively connected to the heating chamber for circulating a thermally induced flow of said fluid, heat radiating surface means having one side conductively bonded in enclosing relation to the circulating conduit means for transfer of heat by conduction and radiation from the other side thereof, heating means mounted within said heating chamber, control means connected to the heating means for intermittently elevating the temperature and pressure of the fluid to induce said thermal flow and heat storing means including a material mounted on and insulating said circulating conduit means and said one side of the radiating surface means for regulating transfer of heat to the air space, said heating chamber means comprising, a vertically elongated fluid-containing housing having an upper portion connected to said circulating means and a lower portion within which said heating means is concentrated, a jacket mounted about said lower portion of the housing connected to said circulating conduit means, and restrictive inlet means providing fluid communication between said jacket and said lower portion of the housing.

6. A fluid flow type of heater for an air space comprising a heating chamber containing a heat conductive fluid circulating conduit means operatively connected to the heating chamber for circulating a thermally induced flow of said fluid, heat radiating surface means having one side conductively bonded in enclosing relation to the circulating conduit means for transfer of heat by conduction and radiation from the other side thereof, heating means mounted within said heating chamber, control means connected to the heating means for intermittently elevating the temperature and pressure of the fluid to induce said thermal flow and heat storing means including a material mounted on and insulating said circulating conduit means and said one side of the radiating surface means for regulating transfer of heat to the air space, said circulating conduit means including pairs of parallel tubes extending along different directions from the heating chamber means, removable casing means enclosing said heating chamber means and extending in overlapping relation to the radiating surface means associated with said pairs of tubes, the ends of said pairs of tubes remote from the heating chamber means being interconnected, a vertically elongated pressure storing chamber disposed adjacent said remote ends of the tubes, and a restrictor tube connecting one of 'said pair of tubes to a lower end of the pressure storing chamber for cushioning abrupt variations in the pressure of the fluid, said heating chamber means comprises, a vertically elongated fluid-containing housing having an upper portion connected to one of said pair of tubes and a lower portion within which said heating means is concentrated, a jacket mounted about 7 8 said lower portion of the housing connected to the other 2,716,802 9/ 1955 Greer. of said pair of tubes, and restrictive inlet means provid- 2,772,342 11/ 1956 Reynolds et a1. 219-341 ing fluid communication between said jacket and said 2,795,035 6/1958 Kafer. lower portion of the housing to control the flow of fluid 2,841,685 7/1958 Alexander 219-341 therethrough. 5 2,859,947 11/1958 Persson 165171 X References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 524,239 5/1921 France. 1,941,855 1/1934 Eggleston 219 341 974,370 9/ 1950 Frame- 2,063,152 12/1936 Davidson 219 341 10 289924 4/1928 Great Bntam- 2,469,963 5/1949 Grosjean et a1. 165-171 X 2 510 235 6 1950 Kogel 219 3 5 X RICHARD WOQD, Primary Examiner- 2,579,898 12/1951 Brucker 21934 ANTHONY BARTIS, Examiner. 

1. A FLUID FLOW TYPE OF HEATER FOR AN AIR SPACE COMPRISING A HEATING CHAMBER CONTAINING A HEAT CONDUCTIVE FLUID, CIRCULATING CONDUIT MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE HEATING CHAMBER FOR CIRCULATING A THERMALLY INDUCED FLOW OF SAID FLUID, HEAT RADIATING SURFACE MEANS HAVING ONE SIDE CONDUCTIVELY BONDED IN ENCLOSING RELATION TO THE CIRCULATING CONDUIT MEANS FOR TRANSFER OF HEAT BY CONDUCTION AND RADIATION FROM THE OTHER SIDE THEREOF, HEATING MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HEATING CHAMBER, CONTROL MEANS CONNECTED TO THE HEATING MEANS FOR INTERMITTENTLY ELEVATING THE TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE OF THE FLUID TO INDUCE SAID THERMAL FLOW AND HEAT STORING MEANS INCLUDING A MATERIAL MOUNTED ON AND INSULATING SAID CIRCULATING CONDUIT MEANS AND SAID ONE SIDE OF THE RADIATING SURFACE MEANS FOR REGULATING TRANSFER OF HEAT TO THE AIR SPACE, SAID CIRCULATING CONDUIT MEANS INCLUDING LOWER AND UPPER FLUID CONDUCTING CONDUITS DISPOSED IN PARALLEL, HORIZONTAL RELATION TO EACH OTHER AND HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID HEATING CHAMBER AND TO A VERTICAL CONNECTING SECTION, PRESSURE CHAMBER MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT TO SAID CONNECTING SECTION AND RESTRICTIVE PASSAGE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID UPPER CONDUCTING CONDUIT TO THE PRESSURE CHAMBER MEANS FOR ELIMINATING ABRUPT FLUCTUATIONS IN STATIC PRESSURE OF THE FLUID, SAID HEATING CHAMBER MEANS COMPRISING, A VERTICALLY ELONGATED FLUIDCONTAINING HOUSING HAVING AN UPPER PORTION CONNECTED TO THE UPPER CONDUCTING CONDUIT AND A LOWER PORTION WITHIN WHICH SAID HEATING MEANS IS CONCENTRATED, A JACKET MOUNTED ABOUT SAID LOWER PORTION OF THE HOUSING CONNECTED TO SAID LOWER CONDUIT OF THE LIQUID CIRCULATING MEANS, AND RESTRICTIVE INLET MEANS PROVIDING FLUID COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID JACKET AND SAID LOWER PORTION OF THE HOUSING TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF FLUID THERETHROUGH. 